What controls trace element levels in ore sulfides? A laser-ICPMS perspective. Sub-surface hydrothermal gold and base metal orebodies are surrounded by aprons of elevated metal concentrations, mainly within micro-sulfides, which is one sign mineral explorers use to widen their target. Here we test whether the hostrock contributes metal in the most distant parts of such halos, and if so, what factors control where hostrock metal begins to be detectable in a given system. We will make better model ....What controls trace element levels in ore sulfides? A laser-ICPMS perspective. Sub-surface hydrothermal gold and base metal orebodies are surrounded by aprons of elevated metal concentrations, mainly within micro-sulfides, which is one sign mineral explorers use to widen their target. Here we test whether the hostrock contributes metal in the most distant parts of such halos, and if so, what factors control where hostrock metal begins to be detectable in a given system. We will make better models of how metalliferous waters react with rock, potentially translating into million dollar savings through more efficient exploration. The ultrafine sampling and precision analyses required for this are possible because of an ARC-funded core program at CODES.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - in Ore Deposits. Australia's minerals industry faces a two-fold challenge - to find new ore deposits and to mine them with maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Those challenges demand a new generation of focused ore deposit research, tailored specifically for the Australian context. The Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits will provide the foundation of fundamental research required by a successful, efficient and sustainable Australian minerals industry ....ARC Centre of Excellence - in Ore Deposits. Australia's minerals industry faces a two-fold challenge - to find new ore deposits and to mine them with maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Those challenges demand a new generation of focused ore deposit research, tailored specifically for the Australian context. The Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits will provide the foundation of fundamental research required by a successful, efficient and sustainable Australian minerals industry. The Centre will also play a leading role in the undergraduate and postgraduate training of future geoscientists. The concentration of internationally recognised researchers in the Centre will ensure it maintains its premier position in the international ore deposit research arena.Read moreRead less
Genesis of platinum group element-rich, unconformity-style, hydrothermal mineral deposits, as inferred from a Northern Territory example. Mineral products currently provide a great deal of Australia's exports to international markets, and underpin much of our economy. However, Australia can only maintain this position through continued improvement of mineral discovery rates, particularly for high value, deep earth resources. This project aims to improve the likelihood of the discovery of higher ....Genesis of platinum group element-rich, unconformity-style, hydrothermal mineral deposits, as inferred from a Northern Territory example. Mineral products currently provide a great deal of Australia's exports to international markets, and underpin much of our economy. However, Australia can only maintain this position through continued improvement of mineral discovery rates, particularly for high value, deep earth resources. This project aims to improve the likelihood of the discovery of higher value hydrothermal orebodies. This will improve the value of mineral exports, raise exploration levels in some Australian provinces (thus stimulating economic activity in regional and industrial sectors), and help invigorate training within the geoscience arm of the university sector. Read moreRead less
Geochronology, Metallogenesis and Deposit Styles of Loei Foldbelt in Thailand and Laos PDR. The Loei volcanic-plutonic belt occurs in Thailand and Laos PDR between two major crustal terranes in mainland SE Asia: Shan-Thai in the west and Indochina terrane in the east. Several skarn type copper-gold and porphyry related epithermal gold deposits are distributed along the Loei belt, and yet these deposits are not well documented in the literature. Detailed metallogenic relations and evolution of th ....Geochronology, Metallogenesis and Deposit Styles of Loei Foldbelt in Thailand and Laos PDR. The Loei volcanic-plutonic belt occurs in Thailand and Laos PDR between two major crustal terranes in mainland SE Asia: Shan-Thai in the west and Indochina terrane in the east. Several skarn type copper-gold and porphyry related epithermal gold deposits are distributed along the Loei belt, and yet these deposits are not well documented in the literature. Detailed metallogenic relations and evolution of these mineral deposits are also poorly understood; it is not known whether they formed from single, long-lived intrusive-centred mineralised systems or multiple/episodic mineralised systems. Understanding the geotectonic and metallogenic relations of this belt have a direct benefit to Australian companies exploring in SE Asia, and the research results also can be applied back in Australia for exploration of Cu-Au deposits.Read moreRead less
Transitions and Zoning in Porphyry-Epithermal Districts: Indicators, Discriminators, and Vectors. We aim to improve understanding of ore genesis and exploration success in porphyry-epithermal mineral districts. These districts can contain porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits (the world's major source of copper), epithermal Au-Ag deposits, skarn and sediment-hosted gold deposits. These districts continue to be important targets for copper and gold explorers, even though it can be difficult to identify th ....Transitions and Zoning in Porphyry-Epithermal Districts: Indicators, Discriminators, and Vectors. We aim to improve understanding of ore genesis and exploration success in porphyry-epithermal mineral districts. These districts can contain porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits (the world's major source of copper), epithermal Au-Ag deposits, skarn and sediment-hosted gold deposits. These districts continue to be important targets for copper and gold explorers, even though it can be difficult to identify the ore zones within large zones of background alteration. We will develop and test criteria that can be used by explorers to indicate prospective environments, discriminate between mineralization styles, and vector towards ore zones - be they of porphyry, epithermal, and/or other peripheral styles.Read moreRead less
Genetic and chemical characterisation of the pristine Archean Jaguar base-metal deposit, to improve local and global prospectivity. Jaguar is a remarkably pristine finely banded submarine volcanic hosted base-metals-silver deposit from the Australian Archean, ~2.7 billion years old. We will document its detailed ore and volcanic textures, gaining valuable new genetic insights from its extraordinary preservation. With an emerging mining company in regional Western Australia, we will combine foren ....Genetic and chemical characterisation of the pristine Archean Jaguar base-metal deposit, to improve local and global prospectivity. Jaguar is a remarkably pristine finely banded submarine volcanic hosted base-metals-silver deposit from the Australian Archean, ~2.7 billion years old. We will document its detailed ore and volcanic textures, gaining valuable new genetic insights from its extraordinary preservation. With an emerging mining company in regional Western Australia, we will combine forensic textural studies with advanced geochemical analysis to (1) determine the deposit origin; (2) infer the origin of other well laminated but less well preserved deposits globally; (3) apply these findings to the detection of local prospective horizons under deep cover; and (4) use the deposit features to test current models of massive sulfide formation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347677
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,000.00
Summary
An electron probe microanalysis system to replace an existing 14 year-old instrument. Compositional data determined on inorganic materials by electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) underpins a considerable amount research in Earth/planetary sciences. Spots down to 2/1000mm may be analysed quantitatively for major elements and some trace elements with an accuracy of <1%, and digital composition maps of the elemental spatial distribution can be generated. Increasing downtime on the 14 year-old UTasma ....An electron probe microanalysis system to replace an existing 14 year-old instrument. Compositional data determined on inorganic materials by electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) underpins a considerable amount research in Earth/planetary sciences. Spots down to 2/1000mm may be analysed quantitatively for major elements and some trace elements with an accuracy of <1%, and digital composition maps of the elemental spatial distribution can be generated. Increasing downtime on the 14 year-old UTasmania microprobe, coupled with diverse new and exciting applications in ore deposit research, environmental geoscience and geochronology force us to seek funds to replace the existing EPMA facility, which has logged ~101,000 hours of use involving ~250 researchers, and produced more than 500 refereed papers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561245
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,092.00
Summary
Scanning electron microscope with system for automated mineral mapping and textural analysis to support new geometallurgy research initiative. This project aims, through the purchase of a Scanning Electron Microscope, to re-establish an effective microscopy service to life science researchers and concurrently establish a novel research capability for geologists, providing each research group with adequate access.
Research projects using this facility have economic importance to the silvicultu ....Scanning electron microscope with system for automated mineral mapping and textural analysis to support new geometallurgy research initiative. This project aims, through the purchase of a Scanning Electron Microscope, to re-establish an effective microscopy service to life science researchers and concurrently establish a novel research capability for geologists, providing each research group with adequate access.
Research projects using this facility have economic importance to the silviculture, aquaculture and mining industries. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania. A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania:
This proposal aims to replace an existing 12-year old conventional electron microprobe with a state-of-the art field emission electron microprobe instrument capable of in-situ, low-level, quantitative non-destructive chemical analysis, and mapping of element distribution and texture at sub-micron resolution. This would establish new research strengths in the fi ....A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania. A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania:
This proposal aims to replace an existing 12-year old conventional electron microprobe with a state-of-the art field emission electron microprobe instrument capable of in-situ, low-level, quantitative non-destructive chemical analysis, and mapping of element distribution and texture at sub-micron resolution. This would establish new research strengths in the field of earth and materials science. In particular, it may improve efficiencies of discovery and recovery of ore deposits and develop environmentally friendly processes for waste disposal. Read moreRead less
A melt inclusions pursuit into the identity of carbonatite magmas and their economic potential. The project will focus on close connections between mantle carbonate-rich magmas and the accumulation of rare metals and diamonds in the crust. This study is in an internationally competitive field, will educate young geoscientists in the use of modern research methods and will benefit the Australian communities and economy.